Attachment for electric switches



Dec. 1, 1925. 1,563,831 G. A. BURNHAM ATTACHMENT FOR ELECTRIC SWITCHES Filed May 14, 1920 Sheets-Sheet l law Dec. 1, 192s. -1,563,831

G. A. BURN HAM TTACHMENT FORv ELECTRIC SWITCHES Filed May 14, 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l z a a v a r I f l r u n f v 1 a u z E 2; jhvenof".

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Dec. 1, 1925. 1,563,831

G. A. BURNHAM ATTACHMENT FOR ELECTRIC SWITCHES Filed May 14. 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Dec. 1, 1925.

UNITED STATES GEORGE A. BURITHAM, OF SAUGUS, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNn MENTS, TO CONDIT ELECTRICAL MANUFACTURIN'G CDBPORATION, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION QF MASSACHUSETTS.

ATTACHMENT FOR ELECTRIC SIJITCHES.

Application filed .May 14, 1920.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, Gnoncn A. BURNHAM, a citizen ofl the United States, residing at Saugus, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improve ment in Attachments for Electric Switches, of' which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electric switches of the oil immersed type adapted to control and interrupt alternating current circuits carrying relatively high values of current.

In a co-pending application, Serial No. 309,853, filed July 10, 1919, on which application Patent No. 1,413,156, dated April 18, 1922, has issued, I have disclosed an electric switch having means to absorb energy developed upon circuit interruption comprising a Xed switch frame and an oil receptacle enclosing the switchniembers resiliently and removably carried by said frame, also having a second receptacle or spill tank adapted to contain the oil receptacle of the switch and catch oil 'eX- pelled therefrom upon circuit interruption.

In another co-pending application Serial No. 874,276, filed April 16, 1920, I have set forth an electric switch having a resiliently and removably supported oil receptacle and also a spill tank differently constructed and arranged yet adapted to accomplish the same result.

The object of my present invention is to provide an oil receptacle with resilient and removable supporting means, and also when desired, a spill tank, as an attachment for an electric switch.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my invention applied to an electric switch constructed as set forth in my co-pending application, Serial No. 309,853, filed July 10, 1920.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the switch of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section of a modied form of switch having the attachment applied thereto.

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation illustrating the attachment applied to a three-phase switch having individual oil receptacles per phase.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the attachment of Fig. 1 separate from the switch.

Serial No. 381,466.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the attachment without the spill receptacle.

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view of the spill receptacle alone applied to a. switch.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of' the att-achment applied to a three-phase switch.

Fig. 9 is a sectional detail of means for removably securing the attachment yieldingly to the switch frame.

Figs. 10 and 11 are sectional details illustrating modified forms of attaching means.

Fig. 12 is a sectional detail of a modified arrangement for removably securing the attachment illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 yieldingly to the switch frame.

As here shown, an electric switch adapted to receive my attachment has the .fixed switch frame 10, comprising a cover for the oil receptacle, with the arm 11 extended `thei'efrom by which the switch may be secured to a fixed support. Stationary switch members 12 and movable switch members 13 are carried by the switch frame and depend therebelow to be immersed in the oil contained in the oil receptacle. The switch operating mechanism lll is also carried by the switch frame.

The switch frame is formed with a peripherally depending lip or iiange forl the purpose of centering the oil receptacle and for preventing the creepage of moisture into the switch. The depending flange addition-v ally may serve to support the side walls of the oil receptacle and to .guide the gases eX- pelled from the switch upon circuit interruption in a downward direction. The depending flange 15, in Figs. 1 and 2, illustrates the type adapted to support the oil receptacle and also to guide the expelled gas downwardly; and the flange or lip 16,'in Figs. 4, 11 and others, illustrates the type adapted merely to center the oil receptacle and prevent creepage of moisture into the switch. J

The attachment embodying my invention includes the oil receptacle 20 adapted to be placed in position on the switch with its side walls within the flange 15 or lip 16 of the switch andV to contain the switch members which will be immersed in the oil contained therein.

The attachment also comprises the outer receptacle or spill tanlr 2l which preferably is adapted to extend above the flange or lip and to be pcripherally vspaced from the switch 'trame to provide a vent a tor the iinal escape o't uncondensed gas or vapor from the switch to the atmosphere.

rl`he oil receptacle 2O is adapted to be contained with the outer or spill receptacle 2l and the side walls ot the two receptacles are spaced 'lroin each other, preferably at least 'tor the greater part ot their peripheral extent, a relatively narrow distance to provide a space 7) therebetween to serve as a condensation chamber to receive condensable vapor and expelled troin the switch thereof. The condensed oil or other vapor will collect at the bottom oi the outer receptacle. Said space Z1 between the two receptacles is relatively narrow as compared with its depth whereby conibustion will not be supported therein.

In some Aterms ot the attachment embodying my invention, l prefer to secure the inner receptacle to the outer receptacle as by spot welding the bottom ot the two receptacles together whereby to torni a unitary structure. ln other terms the inner receptacle may be loosely received within the y outer receptacle and no particular means for securing the two receptacles together will be provided. l may, however, employ means to center the inner receptacle within the outer receptacle as, 'for instance, the strip o'r angle iron 22 arranged in the bottom of the spill receptacle as illustrated in Figs. l and 2.

The inner oil receptacle may be a single oil receptacle as illustrated in Figs. l and 2 or it maybe formed with a plurality of partitions therein to 'forni as many sections as there are phases in the circuit, controlled by the switch; or there may bc an individual oil receptacle per switch pole.

ln Fig. et I have illustrated a switch having three poles l2, l2, and l2c adapted tor the control o t a three phase circuit. I have also shown three individual oil receptacles 20, 2Ob and 20. each adapted to receive a pole ot' the switch. 'lfhis is in accordance with the present standard construction. Each ot the oil receptacles may be provided with independent spill receptacles as above set t'orth or all ol" the individual receptacles may be contained within a single spill receptacle. Fig. l illustrates the single spill receptacle 2l containing` all of the oil receptacles. rlhe oil receptacles are herein united to the spill receptacle by suitable means as spot-welding, and said latter receptacle is supported from the switch traine through the oil receptacles by means ont the bolts 23 which are secured to the side walls ot the oil receptacles and extended through apertures in the switch trame. Compression springs 2-1t encircle said bolts above said switch trame and wing nuts 25 removably threaded on said bolts compress said springs against the switch trame. By this construction the attachment is resiliently supported from the trame and the attachment may be removed b v removing the said wing nuts.

In said Fig. il, said bolts 23 are extended through said switch trame beyond the depending v[lange or lip lt. ln Fig. 3 the same arrangement ot attaching means is illustrated but said bolts S extend through the switch traine on the inside of said flange or lip. The switch traine illustrated in Fig. 3 is also provided with a second rib 26 adapted to tit within the outer wall ot and center the oil receptacle.

ln Figs. l and 2. l have illustrated a 'form ot attaching' and supporting means tor niy attachment which l prefer to employ when the construction ot the switch will permit of its use. The two receptacles 2O and 2l are supi'lorted on the grids or it may be one grid. which extend on opposite sides beyond the periphery ot the outer receptacle. Rods 28 fixed to such extended portions et the grid and extended upward on each side oi the outer receptacle. The upper ends et said rods are slidably received in holes in lugs 29 which are extended from the switch Vtrame l0 beyond said tlange L?. Said lugs preferably have the recess 30 therein. Compression springs 3l are received in said recesses 30 and encircle the upper ends ot said rods 2S. The upper ends ot' said rods are threaded and nuts 32 are removably received thereon and serve to compress the spring` 3l between them and the bottom walls ot the recess. this arrangement, the attachment is yieldingly supported from the switch frame and may be detached therefrom by the removal of said nuts Sleeves 33 are tixed to said rods 29 b v suitable means and are arranged below said lugs 29 und tor certa-in terms oit the attachment serve to engage the ends ol said lugs $33 to limit the upward movement et the oil receptacle aud provide a clearance space between the top ot the oil receptacle and the under side ot the switch trame tor the purpose oi permitting escape ot gas and vapor :trom the switch over the top ot the oil receptacle and downwardly between the outer periphery ot the oil receptacle and the flange The oil receptacle 20 `tor such an arrangement is made somewhat less than the dimensions bounded by said flange 14 whereby a relatively narrow passage c is provided therebetween for the downward escape ot gas. For some purposes. however, l may desire to have the top Ot the oil receptacle 2O retained yieldingly in substantial Contact with the inside ot the switch trame whereby to provide a substantially closed or non-vented switch. yet it is understood that there will be sutlicient irregularity ot contact between the oil receptacle and the switch frame to provide small clearance spaces through which the switch is enabled to breathe. tith such an attachment, I may omit the sleeves 38 entirely or so dispose them on said rods 28 that said springs 30 serve yieldingly to maintain the top of the oil receptacle 2() directly in contact with the switch frame.

For some purposes, I provide, as the attachment, the oil receptacle and the outer or spill receptacle, with suitable attaching means, as illustrated in Fig. o. I may, however, omit the spill receptacle and support the oil receptacle alone removably and yieldingly about the switch members. This feature of the attachment is illustrated in Fig. G and is substantially the same as the attachment illustrated in F 5 with the exception that the spill receptacle 21 is absent.

My invention also contemplates the employment of the spill receptacle by itself as an attachment to an electric switch and in Fig. 7 I have illustrated such an attachment applied to the electric switch. In said ligure, the spill tank 2l contains the oil receptacle 2O of the switch as before but the two receptacles are entirely independent and to emphasize such independence, I have illustrated the outer receptacle 2l as being entirely clear of the inner receptacle. The inner receptacle is supported in its usual manner by the bolts 23 extending through the switch frame l() and secured thereto by the nuts 25. The outer oil receptacle or spill tank 2l is independently secure-d to the switch frame and as a convenient means for doing this I provide the bars or straps 35 which have apertures therein through which the rods or bolts 23 are extended. The nuts 25 on said rods or bolts 23 serve to secure said bars 35 rmly to the switch frame and said bars are extended outwardly therefrom. Said outer receptacle is provided with bolts 36 which are extended through apertures in the end-portion ot said bars and are secured thereto by the nuts 37 removably threaded on said bolts.

Fig. 12 illustrates a n'loditication of the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 7 wherein the oil receptacle and the spill tank are both removably and -.ficldingly supported from the switch frame. The rods 28 in this modification extend through apertures in said bars which hars are secured to the switch framel by the bolts 39. Springs 3l are disposed over said extended ends of said rods 28 and rest upon said bars. t ing nuts 4() removably threaded on the extended ends of said rods engage said springs whereby the attachment is resiliently and removably supported from the switch frame.

Fig. 10 illustrates a modified form of means for securinor the attachment to the switch frame wherein the bolt 4l is fixed by rivets on the inside of the wall of the receptacle 2O and extends upwardly through the frame 10 within the lip. A spring 24 and nut 25 is arranged on the bolt as in Fig. 4.

In Fig. ll the attaching bolt 42 is secured in the bolt member fixed to the outer periphemr of the oil receptacle and said bolt extends through a lug 44 of the switch frame beyond the lip 16.

In Fig. 9, a lug 45 is fixed to the inner periphery of the oil receptacle 2O slightly below the top ot the receptacle. A. bolt 4.-(3 is slidably received in an aperture therein and extends therethrough. A spring 47 encircles said extended portion of the bolt and engages the head 48 of the bolt and said lug 45. Said bolt extends through an aperture in the switch frame and a wing nut 49 is threaded thereon. By this arrangement, the attachment is resiliently and removably secured to the switch frame and said springs 4? are enclosed within the receptacle.

The outervreceptacle, in all the modiications, is preferably adapted to extend above the lower edge of the depending lip or tiange of the switch for at least for the greater portion of its peripheral extent whereby the more effectively to collect oil and condense gas and vapor expelled from the switch.

I claim:

l. An attachment for a multi-pole electric switch comprising a plurality of oil receptacles each adapted to contain the switch members comprising a switch pole, an outer receptacle containing said oil receptacles adapted to catch oil expelled therefrom, and means removably to support the attachment in position about the switch members.

2. An attachment for a multi-pole electric switch comprising a plurality of oil receptacles each adapted to contain the switch members comprising a switch-pole, an outer receptacle containing said oil receptacles adapted to catch oil expelled therefrom, and means removably to support the attachment yieldingly in position about the switch memners.

An attachment 'for a multi-pole electric switch coniprising a plurality of oil receptacles each adapted to contain the switch meuibers comprising a switch-pole, au outer receptacle containing said oil receptacles adapted to catch oil expelled therefrom. and means yieldingly to support the attachment in position about the switch members.

4. A multi-pole electric switch comprising a switch frame, a plurality of switch members grouped in poles depending therefrom, individual oil receptacles per pole depending from said frame, and a receptacle disposed below said switch frame and conf from,y individual oil receptacles per pole removably depending trom said trame, and a receptacle removably disposed to contain all ot' said oil receptacles and to catch oil expelled therefrom.

6. A multi-pole electric switch comprising a switch trame, a plurality of switch members grouped in poles depending therefrom, individual oil receptacles per pole removably and yieldingly depending from said frame, and a receptacle disposed below said switch frame and containing all of said oil receptacles and adapted to catch oil expelled therefrom.

7. A multi-pole electric switch comprising a switch frame, a plurality of switch members grouped in poles depending therefrom, individual oil receptacles per pole depending rom said frame, a receptacle containing all ot said oil receptacles adapted to catch oil expelled therefrom and means to secure said oil-catching receptacle yieldingly to said switch frame.

S. A multi-pole electric switch comprising a switch frame, a plurality of switch members grouped in poles depending therefrom, individual oil receptacles per pole, aV receptacle containingl all of said oil receptacles a lapted to catch oil expelled therefrom, and means removably to secure all said receptacles to said switch frame.

9. A multi-pole electric switch comprising a switch trame, a plurality of switch members grouped in poles depending there- 'li-oni, individual oil receptacles per pole, a receptacle containing all of said oil receptacles adapted to catch oil expelled therefrom, and means removably to secure all said receptacles yieldingly to said switch trame.

lO. A multi-pole electric switch comprising a switch frame, a plurality of switch members grouped in poles depending therefrom, individual oil receptacles per pole, a receptacle containing all of said oil receptacles adapted to catch oil expelled therefrom, and means yieldingly to Secure all said receptacles to said switch frame.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specilication.

esonera A. BURNHAM. 

